Marit Bjoergen closes historic Olympic career with cross-country gold
Norwegian leaves as most decorated Winter Games athlete of all time
By The Associated Press
Norway's Marit Bjoergen closed out a remarkable Olympic career in dominant fashion, winning gold in the women's 30-kilometre mass start classic in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Sunday.
Her victory also secured Norway's 14th gold medal of the Winter Games, pulling even with Germany and Canada to tie the overall record.
Canada established the record at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, while Germany reached the mark with a victory in four-man bobsleigh earlier Sunday.
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The 37-year-old Bjoergen finished in one hour 22 minutes and 17.6 seconds — nearly two minutes ahead of silver medallist Krista Parkakoski of Finland, who clocked in at 1:24:07.1. Sweden's Stina Nilsson captured bronze with a time of 1:24:16.5.
Emily Nishikawa of Whitehorse, Yukon finished 30th with a time of 1:34:31.7 and Cendrine Browne of Saint-Jérôme, Que., was 43rd at 1:41:23.9.
Bjoergen had plenty of time to pick up the Norwegian flag on the stretch run and wave it as she crossed the finish line to become the only Olympian to win five medals at the Pyeongchang Games.
Bjoergen finishes her career with 15 medals, making her the most decorated Winter Games athlete of all time.
Austria's Teresa Stadlober had been in second place but accidentally took a wrong turn and finished ninth.
With files from CBC Sports